Hate Revealed In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, there is an ongoing feud between the Montague and Capulet families that results in several fights and even deaths. As a result, their families are “forbidden” from talking or even seeing each other. When Romeo attends a Capulet masquerade, he sees Juliet and they fall in love. After finding out that they come from opposing families, their love for each other only grows off of the hate between their loved ones, proving that hate drives their love because they want what they cannot have. During the initial fight between the Capulets and Montagues, Prince Escalus comes to break it up. Seeing the fight, he is appalled and says to the families, ”You beasts, that quench the fire of your pernicious rage with purple fountains issuing from your

After they first meet, they are told that they come from opposing families. When Romeo finds out that Juliet is a Capulet he exclaims, “O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt.” (I.v. 131) When Romeo says his life (love) is in the hands of his enemies, it proves that he wants Juliet more, as he makes this love his life that he is now willing to put in his enemy's hands. When the Nurse tells Juliet that Romeo is a Capulet, she says, “My only love sprung from me only hate!” (I.v.152) Juliet’s reaction states that her love comes from hate, and the fact that she continued to fight for Romeo although she knew he came from the Montague family proves they wanted each other further because of the hatred between their families. When Romeo sneaks into Capulet property, Juliet says, ”If they do see thee, they will murder thee.” (II.ii.75) Romeo’s response to this: ”Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye than twenty of their swords.” (76-77) When both Romeo and Juliet see each other, the first thing they think about is the hate of their families, and love each other more because they are risking the